Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1887-04-08

CatcllD2 the youth ny tiic aim Ssi'o SodiC-
thing TO him. Then he advanced upon US.
Sir Henry, Good, and Umbopa had by
this time seized their rifles and lifted
them threateningly. The party OF natives
still came on. 1t struck me that they could
not know what rifles were, or they would
not have treated them with such contempt.
Put down your gunsw / halloed to the
Others, seeing that our only chance of safety
lay in Cancellation. They obeyed- and walk
ing to the front addressed the elderly man
who had checked the youth.
Greeting" l said in Zulu, pot knowing
what language TO use. To my surprise l
was understood.
Greeting" answered the man, not in
deed. in the same tongue, but in dialect so
closely allied to it, that neither Umbopa or
myself had any difficulty in understanding
it. Indeed, as we afterward found out, the
language spoken by this people was an old
fashioned form of the Zulu tongue, bearing
about the same relationship to it that the
English of Chaucer does TO the English Of
the nineteenth century.
whence come YEP, he went on, what
are you? and why are the faces of three of
We white, and the face of the fourth as the
face OF our mothers sonsT' and he pointed
to Umbopa. looked at Umbopa as he said
ID, and it flashed across me that he was right.
Umbopa was like the faces of the men be-
fore me, so was his great form. But had
not time to reflect on this coincidence.
we are strangers and come in peace" l
answered, speaking very slow, so that he
might understand me, 'and this man is our
servant"
''Ye lie" he answered; 'nO strangers can
cross the mountains where all things die.
But what do your lies matter? if We are
strangers then ye must die, for no strangers
may live in the land of the kukuanas. 1t IS
the kings law Prepare then to die, oh
strangersp
was slightly staggered ut this, more es-
pecially as | saw the hands of some OF the
party of men steal down to their sides,
where hung on each what looked to me like
a large and heavy knife.
What does that beggar saY?' asked Good.
"lic says we are going to be scragSed," |
answered grmly.
"Oa. Lord" groaned Good; and, rs it was
his way when perplexed, put his hands to
his false tetrh, dragging the top set down
and allowing them to fly back to his jaw
with Il snap. 1t was a most fortunate move,
for next second the dignilied crowd Of XII
kuanas gave a simultaneous yell OF hO.rcr,
and boited back some yards.
Whats up?" said |.
''It's his teeth" whispered Sir Henry, ex-
citedy. lie moved them. Take them out,
Good, take them out!'
lie obeycd, slipping the set into the sleeve
OF his ilImncl shirt.
In another second curiosity had overcome
fear, and the men advanced slowly. Appar-
emily they had now forgotten their amiable
intentions of doing for us.
How is it, oh strangers" asked the old
man solemnly. that the teeth of the man"
(pOinting to Good, who had nothing on but
a flannel shirt and had only hllt finished
his shaying) whose body is clothed, and
whose legs are bare, who grows hair OH one
side of his Sickly face and not on the other,
and who has one shining and transparent
eye, and teeth that move OF themselves, com
ing away from the jaws and returning OF
their own wiIl?'
open your mouth" | said to Good, who
promptly curled up his lips and grinned at
the old gentleman like an angry dog, reveal
ing to their astonished gaze two thin lines Of
gum rs utterly innocent of worries as a new
born elephant. His audience gasped.
Where are his teeth?' they shouted;
with our eyes we saw them"
Turning his head slowly and with Il gest-
ure of inctfable contempt, Good swept his
hand across his mouth. Then he grinned
again, and 10! there were two rows of love
ly teeth.
The young man who had flung the knife
threw himself down on the grass and gave
vent to a prolonged howl Of terror; and as
for the old gentleman his knees knocked to-
getheT with fear.
81 see that we are spirits" he said, faItcr
ingy; ''did ever man born of woman have
hair on one side of his face and not on the
other, or round and transparent eye, or
teeth which moved or melted away and
grew again? Pardon us, oh, my lords.
Here was luck, indeed, and, needless to
say, jumped at the chance.
at is granted | said, with an imperial
smile. Nay, ye shall know the truth. We
come from another world, though we are
men such rs ye; we come" | went on,
from the biggest star that shines at night"
"Oh! Oh!' groancd the chorus Of as
tOnishcd aborigincs.
Yes" went on, 1--WE do, indeed" aad
| again smiled bcnignly as l uttered that
amazing lie. 1--WE come to stay with you a
little while, and bless you by our sojourn.
le will see, oh, friends, that | have prepared
myself by learning your language"
ut Is SO, it is So" said the chorus.
Only my lord" put i'll the old gentleman,
thou hast learned it very badly"
cast an indignant glance ut him and he
quailcd.
Now, friends" | continued, "ye might
think that after 80 long journey we should
find it in our hearts to avenge such rCcep-
ton, mayhap u strike cold in death the inn
pious hand that-that, in Short-threw a
knife at the head of him whose teeth come
and GO"
Spare him, my lords" said the old man
in supplcation; "hc is the kings son, and
am his uncle If anything befallS him his
blood Will be required at my hands"
YES, that is certainly So,' put in the
young man with great emphasis.
You may perhaps doubt our power to
avenge," | went on, needless of this by
play. Stay | will show you Here, YOU
dog and slave Undressing Umbopa in a
savage tone), give me the magic tube that
speaks and | tipped a wink toward my ex-
press rifle.
UmbOpa rose TO the occasion, and with
something ~ nearly resembling a grin as |
had ever seen ON his 'digniied face, handed
me the rifle.
at is here, oh, lord of lords" he said,
with deep obeisance.
Now, just before | asked for the rifle |
had perceived a little klipSpringer antelope
standing on a mass of rock about seventy
yards away, and determined to risk shot ut
it,
'lc see that buck" | said, pointing the
animal out 10 the party before me. Tell
me- is it possible for a nan, born of woman.
10 kill it from here with a noiSc?"
at is not possible, my lord" answered the
old man.
Yet shall kill it," said l. quietly.
The old man smiled. THAT my lord can
not do" he said.
raised the rifle, and covered the buck. Ii
was a small animal, and one which one
might well be excused for missing, but |
knew that it would not da 10 miss.
drew a deep breath, and slowly pressed
on the trigger. The buck stood still Is stone.
Bang thudv' The buck Spraut into the
AR and fell on the rock dead rs door-nail.
A groan of terror burst from the group be-
fore us.
If We want meat" l remarked, coolly,
go fetch that buck"
The old man made a sign, and one of his
followers departed and presently returned
bearing the klipspringer. l noticed, with
satisfaction, that l had hit it fairly behind
the shoulder. They gathered round the poor
creatures body, gazing at the bullet-hole in
CONSERVATION.
I'VE see" l said, II do not speak empty
words"